EDITOR'S NOTE:Beterbiev's promoter, Yvon Michel, advised BoxingScene.com that Beterbiev will return on August 22nd, but Lacy is not yet confirmed as the opponent.

Former amateur powerhouse Artur Beterbiev (4-0, 4 KOs), who is now competing in Canada for Group Yvon Michel, was scheduled to take on his toughest opponent to date in ex-IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy on May 24 in Montreal. That fight was announced as a part of a huge Adonis Stevenson vs. Andrzej Fonfara showdown. It never took place due to an injury suffered by the 29-year old Russian in one of his late training sessions.

Now this bout may be revived, according to Artur’s brother (and trainer) Abubakar.

“The fight was cancelled after Artur had injured his left hand, while throwing a punch in one of the ultimate sparring sessions”, said Abubakar Beterbiev to R-Sport Russian media agency.

“Artur suffered a double fracture. However, he is recovering promptly and he is feeling much better now. He will be supervised by the local medical council, and if he is lucky to get a permission to fight – which we hope he will – his next stop is the fight on June 25 in Montreal with the very same opponent. Artur is already in the gym, and his preparation looks fine to me. That’ll be another ten-round non-title fight”.

Beterbiev was a stellar amateur for Team Russian and a two-time Olympian. He is a two-time (2006 and 2010) European and once a world champion (Milano 2009). Lacy (26-4, 18 KOs), now 37, was also an Olympian (for Team USA). He reigned as the IBF 168lb champion between 2004 and 2006. He last fought in November 2013, stopping unheralded Martin Verdin in three, following a long-time lay-off.